If you could liberate Cuba?

[Cherring109]

If you could lead Cuba to freedom as some sort of contra hero would you stick out your neck and risk your life in a counter-revolution considering the good chance you have of getting killed?

Could a "new intellectual" be a "founding father" of a republic? Why or why not?

[Jake_Ellison]

No. (My Spanish isn't very good, I would hate the tropical weather, and I'm not interested in becoming a politician)

Edited May 14, 2010 by Jake_Ellison

[Tom Kloppel]

I am not sure what resources exist in Cuba that would make it worthwhile to risk my life for.

Cuba would not respond to a political leader such as an Objectivist would make. Give it a couple decades of exposure to proper philosophy and maybe... The state in which Cuba is under is completely different than the one in which the US colonies were under. A major component that would be required is free speech. Since you would be unable to backup statements with the proper context to defend them, you would make it no where in politics.

A (private) military action might be possible, and I think morally justifiable, however I doubt the expense would be worth it. After the military action you would have to deal with an occupation for a while as the population adjusted to freedom. You would have to attack the opposition with complete moral integrity, similarly to WW2 Japan. Once again, without proper philosophy to fall back on, the Cuban people would likely revolt against you as a Capitalist "tyrant"...

[Jackethan]

Cuba needs to start its own revolution, not be handed one by bored Americans.

Since the government of a country must depend entirely on the philosophy held by its culture, and since Cuba is definitely not near holding any kind of rational individualistic and rights respecting philosophy, to go and fight in a war against the government of it, or create such a war, would only serve to end lives needlessly and wouldn't bring any kind of good republic to the country. South American countries have revolted against communist dictatorships before, and have gotten worse ones in response.

Find a less destructive hobby.

[ZSorenson]

Could a "new intellectual" be a "founding father" of a republic? Why or why not?

Only if you had personal stake in the country worth more than the cost of the risk. Things like family/former property. And the risk of dying would have to equate with the burden of living without those things you would be fighting for.

There are no countries, really. There's just you, your crap, and the various networks that interfere in it all.

[softwareNerd]

Raul Castro is going to given part of his job to someone about 30 years younger. Though Castro retains power for now, let's hope -- for the sake of Cubans -- that this is a good thing.

https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2018-03-11/a-cuban-president-not-named-castro-will-inherit-troubled-economy

[Repairman]

Interesting indeed. This Diaz-Canel predictably will speak the same ideological rhetoric as his predecessors. But the Mariel Special Economic Development Zone and other developments indicates long-planning for capitalistic reform. Either way, dictatorship is the norm in many countries, and a truly liberated Cuba is a long way off.